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Contemplative Practices Facilitating Awareness, Compassion, and Healing in Study Abroad: A Reflective and Explorative Study

Ciara Hoyne, Jing Lin

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education 2025 DOI: 10.25035/jche.03.01.04 (opens in new tab)

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AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Reflective essay Peer reviewed
Topics Meditation
Keywords Contemplation Compassion Psychotherapist
Key points Argues that contemplative practices can facilitate self-understanding, alleviate stress, enhance connection to host culture, and enable healing in the context of short-term study abroad.

Abstract

This reflective essay focuses on the relationship between contemplative practices and participation in a short-term study abroad trip. The study explores how contemplative practices help facilitate self-understanding, alleviate stress, enhance connection to the host community and culture, and enable healing. We use our experiences participating in a short-term study abroad program as an example for examining the role of contemplative practices in the context of study abroad. We discuss and integrate relevant literature on the topic of meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative inquiry to offer insight into how contemplative practices can be integrated into study abroad in a way that enhances growth, connection, and healing on an individual and collective level.

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